Ore concentration.



11 ITE cha ms and ARTHUR HOWARD HIGGINS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO MINERALS SEPA- RATION AMERICAN SYNDICATE (1913) LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ORE CONCENTRATION.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, ARTHUR HOWARD HIG- ems, a subject of the King of England, residing at 62 London Wall, London, Eng-v land, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore Concentration, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ore concentration and more particularly to processes of the type generally known as froth flotation processes.

The invention is in some respects, a development from that covered in the United States Patent No. 962,678.

It has been found that for the purpose of the froth flotation process a class of compounds hitherto never used for such purpose is very efficient and'produces excellent separation of the minerals from the gangue.

, tions of this invention: 7 Example I: Inan appara These compounds ar'e the sulfuric acid derivatives of certain organic bodies such as fats, oils, alcohols, phenols and their homologues.

This invention therefore lies in the employment as frothing agents of the products obtained by treating organic bodies, such as fats, oils, alcohols, phenols, or their homologues with sulfuric acid.

The sulfuric acid derivatives of a large number of fats, oils and similar organic bodies have already been used in the dyeing and otherindustries under the general name of soluble oils and a feature of this invention' therefore consists in the employment of such soluble oils as frothing a ents in the concentration of ores.

to employ oils and also other insoluble or soluble mineral-frothing agents in an aqueous ,pulp which also contains sulfuric acid but under these conditions the formation of these sulfuric acid derivates does not take place. Some organic bodies used by themselves are superior to their sulfuric acid combinations. Preliminary testswifl show whether it is advantageous to treat any suitable organic compound with sulfuric acid to produce an agent for use in the froth flotation process.

The following are examples of applica- I us similar to that described in United States Patent No. 835;12-0, that is in a cone mixer, there was agitated for one minute a charge of finely Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

Application file d August 31, 1915. Serial No. 48,177.

powdered zinc ore (Broken Hill tailings) containing 18.2% of zinc and 5.5% of lead, hot water acidulated with 30 pounds per ton of sulfuric acid with respect to the ore, and 2 pounds per ton of the sulfuric acid compound castor oil also with respect to the ore. On stopping the agitator the froth which rose to the surface was removed, and was found to assay 40.5% of zinc and 9.5%. of lead giving a recovery of 86.6% of zinc and 65.1% of lead. The sunken material contained 5.3% zinc and 3.0% of lead.

Example II: In the same apparatus the same ore yielded in the same manner on treatment with 2 pounds per ton of B naphthol after conversion to the sulfuric acid ester a froth assaying 42.7% of zinc and to secure by Letters Patent is I 1. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing the finely crushed ore -with water, adding a minute quantity of a sulfuric acid derivative of an organic body,

agitating and aerating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

2. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing the finely crushed ore with water, adding a minute quantity of a sulfuric acid derivative of an organic body and a small quantity of acid, agitate ing andaerating the mlxture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

3. A process. of concentrating ores which consists in ifiixing the finely crushed ore with water, adding a minute quantity of a sulfuric acid derivative of a non-mineral oil, agitating and aerating the mixture to form a froth. and separating the froth.

4. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing the finely crushed ore with water, adding a minute quantity of a sulfuric acid'derivative of a non-mineral oil and a small quantity of acid, agitating and aerating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth. Y

5. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing the finely crushed ore with water, adding a. minute quantity of soluble oil, agitating and aerating the mixture toform a froth, and separating the froth. v

6. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing the finely crushed ore with water, adding a minute quantity of soluble oil and a small quantity of acid, agitating and aerating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.-

7. A process of concentrating ores Which consists in' mixing the finely crushed one with Water, adding a minute quantity of a sulfuric acid derivative of castor oil, agi- 15 tating and aerating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

8. A process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing the finely crushed ore with water, adding a minute quantity of a 20 sulfuric acid derivative of castor oil and a small quantity of sulfuric acid, agitating and aerating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

In testimony signature.

\ARTHUR HOWARD HIGGINS.

whereof I have afiixed my 25 

